Ulcerative Colitis Treatment
What is Maintenance Therapy
If your doctor has prescribed maintenance therapy, he or she probably told you that it is important to take your ulcerative colitis medication as prescribed – often referring to a daily schedule of doses. Some people with ulcerative colitis have a hard time staying on that schedule. They may forget to take their medication or they may not understand why they have to take it when they feel fine. By understanding the concept of maintenance therapy, it may be easier to see why adhering to your prescribed medication schedule is so important.
Treating ulcerative colitis. Treatment is usually based on the state of your ulcerative colitis. If you are in the "active" phase, which means experiencing a flare-up, your doctor may prescribe one or more medications meant to treat the symptoms of a flare-up, such as diarrhea or abdominal cramping. When your flare-up is under control, your doctor may recommend continuing the treatment or decreasing the dosage of your current medication. He or she may also change your medication or dosage in order to help maintain remission and prevent another flare-up.
Importantly, Asacol is indicated for both treatment of mild to moderate flare-ups of ulcerative colitis and maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis.
Maintaining remission. Many doctors agree that it is often easier to maintain remission than to get flare-ups under control. Because ulcerative colitis is a life-long condition, maintenance therapy is often seen as a long-term treatment to help keep people in remission longer, although it does not mean permanent remission. Doctors also like to use medications that have fewer long-term side effects when deciding on a maintenance therapy. If you are concerned about the long-term effects of maintenance therapy, talk to your doctor about prescribing the right medication for you.
Helping prevent flare-ups. To help prevent a flare-up it is important to take your maintenance medication as prescribed. There are other factors, including infections and other medications that can also lead to a flare-up.
Staying healthy. If you are on maintenance therapy, remember that you should take your medication as prescribed by your doctor, and be sure to stay healthy by eating well and getting adequate rest. If you are having problems remembering to take your medication, talk to your doctor about developing a schedule that is right for you. His or her advice, combined with your commitment, can help ensure that you are doing your part to promote your good health.
Treating ulcerative colitis. Treatment is usually based on the state of your ulcerative colitis. If you are in the "active" phase, which means experiencing a flare-up, your doctor may prescribe one or more medications meant to treat the symptoms of a flare-up, such as diarrhea or abdominal cramping. When your flare-up is under control, your doctor may recommend continuing the treatment or decreasing the dosage of your current medication. He or she may also change your medication or dosage in order to help maintain remission and prevent another flare-up.
Importantly, Asacol is indicated for both treatment of mild to moderate flare-ups of ulcerative colitis and maintenance of remission of ulcerative colitis.
Maintaining remission. Many doctors agree that it is often easier to maintain remission than to get flare-ups under control. Because ulcerative colitis is a life-long condition, maintenance therapy is often seen as a long-term treatment to help keep people in remission longer, although it does not mean permanent remission. Doctors also like to use medications that have fewer long-term side effects when deciding on a maintenance therapy. If you are concerned about the long-term effects of maintenance therapy, talk to your doctor about prescribing the right medication for you.
Helping prevent flare-ups. To help prevent a flare-up it is important to take your maintenance medication as prescribed. There are other factors, including infections and other medications that can also lead to a flare-up.
Staying healthy. If you are on maintenance therapy, remember that you should take your medication as prescribed by your doctor, and be sure to stay healthy by eating well and getting adequate rest. If you are having problems remembering to take your medication, talk to your doctor about developing a schedule that is right for you. His or her advice, combined with your commitment, can help ensure that you are doing your part to promote your good health.
Important Safety Information
Asacol® (mesalamine) delayed-release tablets, available only by prescription, are indicated to treat mild to moderate flare-ups of ulcerative colitis and maintain remission of ulcerative colitis.Asacol is generally well tolerated. In studies of flare-ups, some people taking Asacol reported headache, abdominal pain, general pain, rash, upset stomach, and worsening of colitis symptoms. In a six month maintenance study, some people reported headache, runny nose, general pain, sore throat, infection, and nervousness.
You should not take Asacol if you are allergic to Asacol or to salicylates such as aspirin. Tell your doctor if you have kidney problems or a history of kidney disease. It is recommended that all people have their kidney function tested prior to starting Asacol tablets and periodically while on Asacol therapy. Serious side effects may occur. If you have questions about taking Asacol, please talk to your doctor.
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